In this review of Absolute Batman #11, readers are introduced to the origins of the Absolute Universe Bane.
Absolute Batman #11 main cover by Nick Dragotta (DC Comics)
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #11
Written by SCOTT SNYDER
Art by CLAY MANN
Main Cover: NICK DRAGOTTA
Variant Covers: LEE GARBETT, CHRIS BURNHAM, CLAY and SETH MANN, CHRIS MOONEYHAM
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 8/13/25
This review contains spoilers
Absolute Batman #11 begins with a story. Born in Santa Prisca to a rebel leader. Bane’s grandfather led the rebels, then his father, and now him. The rebellion takes control of the Santa Prisca capital before they are captured and imprisoned for close to 10 years. The father tells the son that they will not break. The son eats rats in the prison to survive and learns to fight.
After 11 years in the prison, Bane leads a prison escape as he and other inmates take over the prison and commandeer boats off the island. His father gives him his famous mask. Bane and his crew make it to an island where they run into a man in white. We finally get another meeting with this universe’s Joker. The Joker talks to Bane but never laughs, the father thinks. Whatever was offered to Bane is refused and Joker goes off into a helicopter and flies off. The father looks at Bane with such love and admiration and hugs his son. Bane then crushes his father and kills him.
Bane starts his ciminal empire. The venom that runs through his body allows him to control every muscle in his body and makes him super smart. He knows every fighting technique and every strategy a person would need in a battle.
We get another confrontation between Bane and Batman. Bane destroys Batman thoroughly and cuts off both his arms and smashes his face in. Bane drags him back to Ark M and Batman is operated on. We see the full operation done on Bruce and he is a suped up venom infused Batman.
This is being narrated by Alfred on what could have happened. He is proud Bruce wasn’t broken by Bane but knows that Bane will go after what will really break him- by going after his friends. The issue ends with Bane confronting Harvey, Eddie, and Oswald.
Analysis
Absolute Batman #11 was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I liked the origin of Bane. Shades of the main universe, shades of The Dark Knight Rises. Growing up in a war torn country, being in prison for a decade, running his own organization. I really liked it.
Then I went for a loop when he fought Batman and cut off his limbs and turned him into a cross between Bane, the Punisher, and a wacked out 90s character. But it turns out that it was just a bit of vision of what would have happened had Bruce been broken by Bane in the previous issue.
But then we get a great ending with Bane prepared to take out three of Bruce’s closest friends. More on that- Bane is behind Waylon becoming a full Killer Croc. Will he scar and corrupt Harvey, Oz, and Eddie and turn them into their traditional DC comics counterparts? I kind of hope not but who knows what Snyder has up his sleeve.
We see the Joker again and find out that he is behind the scenes of this Bane operation. We know he doesn’t laugh. And that is pretty much all we know. And he was surrounded by a bunch of babes in bikinis. Snyder writing to Clay Mann’s strengths.
I wonder if this will be a one off for Mann or if he will continue on this Bane arc. I am a big fan of Mann but his art fits more of the mainline than the Absoilite especially compared to Nick Dragotta.
Who knows where Snyder will go next. As said Absolute Batman #11 was quite a ride. I assume #12 will focus on Bruce and Waylon after their escape.
